One of the most rewarding parts of my role at Kann Advisory Group is seeing what happens when talented people realize they have more to say than they thought. The expertise is already there. The experience is already there. The challenge is often finding the confidence and clarity to communicate it in a way that makes people listen. To understand what that shift looks like for a mission-driven entrepreneur, I sat down with Jon Decker, the founder of Decker Golf and a Kann Advisory Group client who went through Elevate Coaching and became “A Brand New You” with Kraig Kann.
Jon Decker – Elevate Coaching Alumni Member
Jon’s passion for golf began at the age of ten. “When I was a kid, I used to tell my parents that one day I’m going to break all of Jack Nicklaus’ records,” Jon laughed. While his career path ultimately shifted from a competitive playing career to a highly respected teaching career, that initial passion never faded. Over the next four decades, Jon earned PGA Teacher of the Year honors, authored books, and became one of golf’s most respected and trusted voices in instruction.
His connection to Kraig reads like something out of a storybook. Years ago, while teaching at Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, Kraig asked Jon to give his young son, Trent, a golf lesson. The very next day, Trent went out and made a hole-in-one on the 3-hole practice course. That unforgettable moment sparked a decades-long relationship built on friendship, trust, and mutual respect.
When Jon later began stepping into more keynote speaking opportunities and fundraising events, he knew exactly who to call. He had something unique. He wasn’t just teaching golf. He was connecting golf, faith, leadership, and life lessons into a message he believed could impact people far beyond the course.
The challenge wasn’t knowing what he wanted to say. The challenge was helping others understand why it mattered.
An Accomplished Golf Leader Mixing Faith Within His Message
As Jon put it: “I don’t look at myself as a golf instructor, I look at myself as a teacher.” In 2022, Jon traveled to Orlando to complete an intensive, 1-on-1 two-day Elevate Coaching session with Kraig. Right out of the gate, Kraig stood him up in an empty conference room and hit him with a signature KAG question: “Tell us your story and why I should care.”
Jon’s initial reaction was raw and honest. “It was terrible at first,” he recalled. “I was not very good at what I was trying to get across in my brand.”
The biggest barrier wasn’t Jon’s expertise; it was his comfort zone. When speaking at church functions or seminars, Jon had always relied on a physical safety net: the podium. “The podium was your safe zone,” Jon explained. “You’ve got your notes there. If you go blank, you can look down and everything is right in front of you.”
Kraig recognized that to build true presence and connection with an audience, Jon had to step away from the thing that had always made him comfortable. He gave Jon a directive that changed everything: “You’re not speaking in front of the podium anymore. You’ve got to get out. You’ve got to interact with the people there. You’ve got to be out front and center.”
As the two days progressed, Jon underwent a massive psychological shift, discovering a brilliant parallel between public speaking and competitive sports.
“I equate public speaking—it’s just like playing in a golf tournament. It is the exact same feeling,” Jon shared. “When I wake up the morning of a golf tournament, I have a pit in my stomach. It’s a nervous energy… But when it’s your turn and they hand you the microphone, it’s like I just kind of relax. Oh, now I can just perform.”
Through Kraig’s coaching, Jon stopped viewing pre-stage anxiety as a sign of weakness and started utilizing it as the adrenaline needed to fuel his performance. KAG didn’t give Jon a new story; Kraig simply unlocked the self-belief that was already inside him.
Working to Deliver a Polished Message
Working to Deliver with Greater Impact
“He gave me the confidence to know that I already have everything that I need.”
On May 13th, Jon put his training to the test as the keynote speaker for the Christian Businessmen’s Connection (CBMC) of Columbus. Standing completely out from behind the podium for a 23-minute speech, he delivered his blended message of scripture, golf, and life story flawlessly, earning great feedback. Two years ago, he admits he would have completely frozen. Today, he can confidently stand in front of 1,000 people with nothing but a microphone.
But the biggest change wasn’t the size of the audience. It was the confidence he carried into every conversation and knowing that the message he had spent a lifetime building was already enough.
What struck me most at the end of my conversation with Jon was how clearly Kraig’s core philosophies have melded into his life. When Jon described how he maintains his focus, I could instantly hear Kraig’s voice echoing through him.
“In life, you don’t have to do things, you get to do things,” Jon told me. “To really appreciate that you get to do these things every day and not take something for granted is really what he’s taught me.”
Hearing that phrase come from an alumnus completely reframes my own daily focus. Growth isn’t about clinging to the safety of a structured script or hiding behind a podium. It’s about realizing that we get to step into high-stakes moments, embrace our vulnerability, and let our preparation flow. Whether you are teaching a swing, delivering a keynote, leading a company, or representing a brand you believe in, the lesson is exactly the same: put down the notes, step out front, and own your moment.
If you or your team are ready to move beyond the script, step away from the podium, and communicate with the confidence your expertise deserves, you can reach me at connect@kannadvisory.com or explore the Elevate Experience and Brand New You program at kannadvisory.com.
And stay tuned for more stories from our Alumni folks finding their confidence and their voice to share their unique message.
Taylor Twellman, Manager Growth Marketing & Partnerships
You can reach me through email: connect@kannadvisory.com